Smith & Wesson bringing back no internal lock revolvers for 2024?

[M29since14]

Rwsmith… Of course. It's called a padlock. You can buy them for $10 or so.

 

[NY-1]

There is some history of other gun companies incorporating a key lock built into the gun and discontinuing it. The two companies that come to mind are Remington and Sako. Both incorporated a key lock into the bolt cocking piece into their rifles: Remington 700 and Sako 75. Remington called it the "J-Lock." It was introduced in 2002 and phased out in 2005. Sako briefly introduced a similar type key lock around the same time frame and discontinued it as well. Apparently, consumers did not like these internal locks.

Anyhow, these is some history of other gun companies implementing and subsequently discontinuing an internal key lock.

Didn't Ruger also remove the internal locks in their single actions circa 2012-ish?

 

[smithman]

If they do, I'll pledge to buy a handful of six guns!

 

[llowry61]

I bought two with locks this year, a 640 and a 642. Plugged them both. But I still got a padlock with the revolvers. Does this make them twice as safe?

Using the convoluted thinking of the anti 2A crowd. Absolutely - it's a commonsense gun violence measure. Like the 6 foot rule or 10pm curfew for Covid.

Follow the science, right.

 

[lppd4]

If they ditch the lock, will they return the profile near the hammer to the pre-lock look? That's a bigger issue than the lock if you ask me. It would require a lot of retooling. I don't see that happening

 

[llowry61]

There is some history of other gun companies incorporating a key lock built into the gun and discontinuing it. The two companies that come to mind are Remington and Sako. Both incorporated a key lock into the bolt cocking piece into their rifles: Remington 700 and Sako 75. Remington called it the "J-Lock." It was introduced in 2002 and phased out in 2005. Sako briefly introduced a similar type key lock around the same time frame and discontinued it as well. Apparently, consumers did not like these internal locks.

Anyhow, these is some history of other gun companies implementing and subsequently discontinuing an internal key lock.

Fair comment.

IMHO hunting rifles just don't create the fear that the evil Assault weapons or easily concealable pistols do. If they attack them openly, they risk alienating a large portion of the gun owning community that may in fact support some of the once again "common sense" gun violence prevention activities. It is a fine line for them. They have to market themselves as preventioneers (I just made that word up) not gun control activists.

 

[brendonjames65]

Didn't Ruger also remove the internal locks in their single actions circa 2012-ish?

That's right Ruger did incorporate a key lock I believe in the New Vaquero, some Blackhawk's and LCR's but it was unobtrusive and not visible like the S&W IL since the Ruger's IL was inside the grip frame and you had to take off the grips to engage the lock. My understanding is Ruger has subsequently disconnected the IL too.

 

[NY-1]

That's right Ruger did incorporate a key lock I believe in the New Vaquero, some Blackhawk's and LCR's but it was unobtrusive and not visible like the S&W IL since the Ruger's IL was inside the grip frame and you had to take off the grips to engage the lock. My understanding is Ruger has subsequently disconnected the IL too.

Thanks for the refresher. If one *must* have an internal lock in their gun, that was the way to do it IMO. Unobtrusive and hidden. (But even better is getting rid of them and sticking to just the external padlock in the box, of course.)

 

[Hapworth]

Come see me at the Lipsey's booth on Tuesday at SHOT Show and I will show you miracles…..Darryl Bolke from American Fighting Revolver on Patreon.

Surprised this comment hasn't gotten more attention...

I've long pushed my chips out on "no way" every time the perennial "will S&W ever get rid of" question is asked, and so far been right, but nyeti's reply changes things.

Darryl, you serious? (I suspect you are.)

 

[llowry61]

I hope I'm wrong, I would like to buy a couple of newer revolvers. Colt has been getting my money on any current production revolvers.

If nothing else a big middle finger to the anti's.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Surprised this comment hasn't gotten more attention...

I've long pushed my chips out on "no way" every time the perennial "will S&W ever get rid of" question is asked, and so far been right, but nyeti's reply changes things.

Darryl, you serious? (I suspect you are.)

I'm confused. Can you explain why?

 

[gnappi]

If people stop buying lock models that will mean they will basically sell no revolvers. At that point they will assume the revolver market no longer exists and stop making revolvers all together.

So, what I'm reading is that when buyers started buying Japanese cars Detroit folded up? Nah

They started upping their game.

If S&W had no revolvers sales they absolutely would being back the no lock model.

 

[Ingramite]

Springfield Armory had locks on the main spring housing of their 1911s too.
I don't know if they still do.

 

[Grayfox]

CEOs and the BOD don't run companies anymore. The lawyers do. No way they'll get rid of the lock.
But if they did, they'll have to up their QC considerably before I buy a new one.

 

[charlie sherrill]

If people stop buying lock models that will mean they will basically sell no revolvers. At that point they will assume the revolver market no longer exists and stop making revolvers all together.

They've lost so many sales making the IL models I doubt they have noticed and sure they don't care. I'm in the winter of my life and refuse to own a IL lock, but my generation is headed out the door. The newbies will buy them if they're not buying fantastic plastic and in a few more years it won't matter. But, look at what they lost while it did matter.

 

[Tom S.]

FROM THE RULES:

This 1980 to the Present forum is a place for enthusiasts of S&W revolvers of this era to enjoy discussion of those products.

If you are not fond of these revolvers and prefer the older products, we have three other forums that cover those revolvers. You are invited to discuss them there as much as you want.
If you are one of the people who constantly enters threads ONLY to spew your hatred for the internal lock, MIM parts, or whatever you dislike about modern S&W revolvers, STOP doing it.

Several posts removed or edited. Dings WILL be issued and the thread closed if this continues.

 

[glider1]

Some of you guys aren't giving S&W enough credit, I'm sure they know exactly what effect the lock has on sales. S&W hasn't done much on the revolver side of their business in a long time.

 

[Hapworth]

I'm confused. Can you explain why?

"nyeti" is, I believe, the handle for Darryl Bolke; he's a retired LEO, accomplished and prolific firearms trainer, and a major advocate of revolvers for practical self-defense.

If he's indicating in his post that our collective certainty that S&W won't produce more models without the lock is mistaken, and the proof of it will be at SHOT next week, I'm paying attention.

 

[MSD2343]

Also some current production models with NO lock: 340 M&P, 640 Pro, 442 no lock...
(actually, WHY is it that S&W makes a few with NO lock?? And, are they only J-frames?)

I believe all the no lock J-frame options are DAO. If it has an external hammer, it has a lock. Make sense? Not to me, either.

 

[mikerjf]

I believe all the no lock J-frame options are DAO. If it has an external hammer, it has a lock. Make sense? Not to me, either.

Can an external hammer revolver with the lock be locked if it is cocked? (That's confusing even me, LOL…)

I could see not wanting to facilitate this particular kind of cocked-and-locked, 'specially if some noob thinks it's the only way to carry.